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Episode Summary In this episode, Caleb Knerr and Tayler MacDonald discuss the steps the Missouri Department of Transportation has taken to address wildlife-vehicle collisions on state roadways.  Episode Notes On the latest episode of The Stream by AASHTO podcast, Caleb Knerr and Tayler MacDonald– both senior environmental specialists, with the Missouri Department of Transportation – discuss how their agency used tracking technology to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) on state roadways. In Missouri, wildlife vehicle collisions have become an increasing concern. On MoDOT roads, 8-10% of wildlife vehicle collisions result in injury or faality. There was a total of 17,609 WVCs, so around 1,584. Further, these WVCs cost the state of Missouri over $230 million dollars. The conversation explores the parameters to identify them and how they decided to most effectively act. In this episode, they discuss MoDOT's use of technology to track wildlife sightings, including the Roadkill Observation and Data System “ROaDS” mobile application. The app allows drivers to identify and place wildlife presences along highways. They also share MoDOTs 2021 pilot program that was designed to identify WVCs hotspots and how to reduce them. It focuses on improving safety while restoring habitat connectivity. The project was awarded $320,000 in federal funds.   This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state DOTs and the infrastructure programs they oversee. Editor’s note about similar Utah DOT app: https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/utah-introduces-roadkill-reporter-app-for-motorists/

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, longtime ITE member Dan Hardy, PE, PTP, reflects on his 40-year career and the evolution of transportation planning, including the growing importance of collaboration across industry disciplines. Hardy discusses how planners and engineers can combine data, community perspectives, and diverse expertise to develop solutions that lead to meaningful change. He also explores the future of the profession, the importance of communicating transportation and safety goals effectively, and the value of the Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) certification through the Transportation Professionals Certification Board in demonstrating expertise and fostering continued professional growth.

In this episode of the ITE Talks Transportation podcast, Dr. Shauna Hallmark, Professor at Iowa State University, and Ginny O’Connor, P.E., PTOE, RSP2I, Transportation Engineer at toXcel, explore the critical role of speed management in reducing fatal and serious injury crashes. They discuss how agencies can take a more proactive, systemic approach by examining operating speeds, roadway conditions, and potential conflict points rather than relying solely on crash data. The conversation also highlights speed management strategies, real-world examples from communities across the country, and the importance of matching roadway design with safe operating speeds. Hallmark and O’Connor close with practical considerations for transportation professionals, including appropriately setting speed limits, accounting for roadway users and conditions, and building public understanding of why speed management measures are needed.

Episode Summary In this episode, Alissa Fadden – wildlife connectivity project manager for The Nature Conservancy in New York – and Chris Slesar, environmental resources coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, join The Stream by AASHTO podcast to discuss “Highways and Habitats,” a video training series that helps bridge the gap between road ecology and habitat connectivity. The pair discussed the importance of bringing transportation ecology to the forefront of state department of transportation projects and how this new training program helps teach state DOT professionals the ins-and-outs of connecting both people and wildlife safely across the northeast. Episode Notes Chris Slesar and Alissa Fadden,  join The Stream by AASHTO podcast to discuss “Highways and Habitats,” a video training series created by a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and eight state departments of transportation. In the Northeast, where the training is particularly focused, state DOTs have noticed a recent uptick in changing species patterns as a result of various habitat changes, including increased flooding and road construction. For those state DOTs, it became evident that a more “connected landscape” is necessary to make roads safer while simultaneously improving protections for local ecologies. In this episode, Fadden and Slesar discuss a variety of topics – including how to build cross-border state DOT relationships, the impact of Vermont’s original award-winning “Highways and Habitats” training program, regional habitat connectivity successes, and what this new training initiative could mean for state DOTs in other parts of the United States. More information about the program can be found in The Leaflet by AASHTO’s June 2026 article about the training. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state DOTs and the infrastructure programs they oversee.

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, ITE Global District Director Farukh Ijaz, PE, shares his inspiring journey from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to becoming a transportation leader and entrepreneur in the United States. Farukh reflects on how relationships, mentorship, and a passion for transportation shaped both his career and the growth of Consulting Services USA. He also discusses his vision for strengthening ITE’s global network by fostering meaningful professional connections and creating pathways for knowledge exchange across borders. Tune in to hear how international collaboration can help transportation professionals tackle shared challenges and build a stronger, more connected future for the industry.

Episode Summary In this episode, Alan Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors addressing the vehicle needs of the disabled, along with the travel difficulties experienced by his wheelchair-bound wife, inspired him to form his company, Spark Access. Hejl dives into how those personal experiences pushed him to advocate for the mobility needs of the disabled – especially in terms of how greater mobility for the disabled fosters more inclusion for them in society. Hejl also explains how his advocacy efforts include creating more autonomous vehicle accessibility for the disabled. Episode Notes The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Alan Hejl, founder and lead consultant of Spark Access; a company that helps people with disabilities gain more mobility options to help foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion for them more broadly in society. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management Technical Service Program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee. The mission of Spark Access is foster more awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for the disabled within the mobility industry. The firm’s advocacy efforts focus on helping people with both visible and hidden disabilities gain more transportation options to fit their travel needs. In this episode, Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors helped open his eyes to the wide array of mobility issues people with disabilities face – a passion that deepened and became more personal in light of the mobility struggles faced by his wheelchair-bound wife. Hejl discusses how different kinds of disabilities – both visible and hidden – can impact transportation options; how transportation systems are often built with the needs of the disabled as an afterthought; and how autonomous vehicles can offer the disabled greater travel opportunities if they meet their accessibility needs.

In this special anniversary episode, host Bernie Wagenblast and ITE Executive Director and CEO Steve Kuciemba celebrate 10 years of ITE Talks Transportation. Together, they reflect on a decade of conversations with industry leaders whose insights have helped shape discussions on transportation safety, transportation systems operations and management, emerging technologies, and other critical issues impacting mobility. Join us for a look back at the voices, ideas, and innovations that have influenced the transportation profession over the past 10 years.

Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Russell McMurry – commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation – discussing his emphasis areas as 2025-2026 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; emphasis areas focused on safety, National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA compliance, ways to improve project delivery, and federal surface transportation funding reauthorization. Episode Notes This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by AASHTO. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee. In this episode, McMurry – who graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – traces his career path at Georgia DOT; starting as an intern in 1990 and then progressing all the way up to his appointment as commissioner in 2015. McMurry also shares what he’s learned over the more than three decades he’s spent at Georgia DOT in a wide variety of roles, such as construction project manager, district engineer, director of engineering, chief engineer, and planning director. McMurry also discusses his emphasis areas as AASHTO president, especially in terms of how he selected them. His focus areas include surface transportation reauthorization, improvement of project delivery, and safety. “Until there are zero deaths on our nation’s highways and roadsides, we all have work to do,” he said. Finally, McMurry details what federal surface transportation funding reauthorization legislation could look like if passed by Congress this year; a bill he hopes will contain strong formula funding programs to support state transportation needs and how he wants it to be easier for states to take on NEPA assignment duties from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Laurie Matkowski, PMP, Planning Practice Lead at GFT, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore the evolving world of transportation operations and TSMO. From managing everyday mobility to preparing for global mega-events like the FIFA World Cup, Laurie shares insights on the critical role of alignment, technology, and human decision-making in keeping systems running smoothly. The conversation also dives into the growing impact of AI, digital infrastructure, and data analytics, all while emphasizing the continued importance of collaboration and people in the process.

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, Eric Rensel, Founder and CEO of Rensel Consulting, shares insights on how the industry can attract, develop, and retain the next generation of transportation professionals. From the power of mentorship and storytelling to the importance of early STEM exposure and alternative career pathways, Rensel draws on nationwide workforce development efforts and ITE’s involvement in the Engineering Workforce Consortium. The conversation highlights how flexibility, inclusion, and strong professional relationships are key to shaping a resilient and innovative workforce.

In this episode, Darlene Goehl – research engineer and research group lead at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute – explains how new infrastructure being developed in Texas can help prevent thousands of monarch butterfly deaths as they migrate across busy roads in North America. Episode Notes In this podcast episode, Darlene Goehl joins ‘The Stream by AASHTO’ to discuss the joint work of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) with the Texas Department of Transportation in building monarch flight diverters or MFDs – a series of tall, mesh barriers placed along busy roads that motivate the butterflies to fly above the roadway, well above vehicles traveling on the highway below. Researchers have noted sharp declines in monarch populations, specifically during their migration periods in the fall. In some years, researchers found that nearly 3 percent of the monarch’s fall migratory population were lost after being struck by vehicles traveling on roads; this number represents about half of the population decline in a given year. Goehl discusses the importance of monarch butterflies to the ecology and cultural symbology of the southern U.S. and northern Mexico, the role of transportation, and how TTI identifies “hot spots” for monarch roadkill. From there, Goehl explains the implementation and feasibility of MFDs in Texas and how the project will fare into the future. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, host Bernie Wagenblast speaks with Bryan Jones, Assistant City Manager for the City of Menifee, California, about how a Safe System Approach at the local level moves beyond traditional traffic safety strategies to examine how roadway design affects public health, emergency response, municipal budgets, and overall livability. Jones, coauthor of the February ITE Journal article “Safer Streets Through Abundance: Aligning Fire Codes, Safety, and Community Goals,” emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration—particularly between transportation and fire officials—and challenges the assumption that wider streets inherently improve safety. The conversation also explores practical strategies for building community support and empowering transportation professionals at all levels to lead meaningful, systems-based change.

Michael Sanderson—CEO of Sanbell and 2018 ITE International President—shares how his “people first” philosophy has shaped his career and his approach to building strong teams on this episode of ITE Talks Transportation. He explains that leadership in technical fields isn’t about command-and-control, but about setting a clear vision, building culture, and trusting experts to deliver. Sanderson emphasizes that leadership is learned through practice, and encourages young professionals to say yes to opportunities, especially in organizations like ITE. He also highlights the importance of ethical decision-making, mentorship, adaptability, and the lasting impact of creating LeadershipITE to help develop the next generation of transportation leaders.

Episode Summary In this episode of The Stream by AASHTO, George McCue, Emerging Mobility Assistant Director at the Indiana Department of Transportation, and Dr. Steven Pekarek, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, discuss a new electric vehicle project that seeks to create a wireless, electrified roadway that charges vehicles as they drive across the road. The pair discuss the science behind the project, the partnership between the university and Indiana DOT, and what it could mean for the future of electric vehicles. Episode Notes This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee. In this episode, George McCue with the Indiana DOT and Dr. Steven Pekarek from Purdue University are interviewed by Bernie Wagenblast regarding an electric vehicle charging project they are conducting under the auspices of the Joint Transportation Research Program. The project is testing a dynamic wireless power transfer or “DWPT” system, whereby transmitter coils underneath the road can send energy to an electric vehicle without ever having to plug it in – a power transfer system that is similar to wireless charger technology for smart phones. In West Lafayette, Indiana, Indiana DOT and Purdue have successfully tested a quarter mile of highway on U.S. Route 231 and U.S. Route 52 equipped with over 80 transmitter coils that carried charge to the test vehicle. On the podcast, McCue and Pekarek discuss the multi-faceted aspects of the DWPT project, including the economic viability of the project’s technology, potential size limits of vehicles able to use the road, and working on public roadways that can see thousands of drivers daily. Both stress that this DWPT project could significantly expand the range of electric vehicles on U.S. highways.

Episode Summary In this episode, Dan Medeiros – senior field representative for The Conservation Fund – discusses mountain lion conservation efforts in California as it relates to transportation infrastructure construction, motorist and wildlife safety, along with helping improve ecosystem linkages.  Episode Notes In this episode, Dan Medeiros joins The Stream by AASHTO to discuss his work with The Conservation Fund – a 40-year-old organization that purchases land across the US to preserve wildlife habitat – and its efforts in California to support the safety and growth of mountain lion populations and their habitats.  Medeiros discusses how mountain lion conservation efforts interconnect with transportation infrastructure needs; especially how large barriers and quick-moving cars are two of the main culprits behind mountain lion deaths. He also points to specific examples, including the death of “54M” – a mountain lion tracked by that The Conservation Fund that was tragically killed by a vehicle when trying to cross a major highway. Medeiros also explains the importance of stakeholder input on large infrastructure projects that involve mountain lion populations, including state departments of transportation, local residents, and private organizations. He provides input on the importance of quality data collection, advocacy, and conversation when working with big stakes. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.